Effects of date palm pollen (Phoenix dactylifera L.) and Astragalus ovinus on sperm parameters and sex hormones in adult male rats

Date Palm Pollen (DPP) and Astragalus genus are used in some countries for the treatment of infertility.

This study was designed to investigate effects of DPP and Astragalus ovinus (A.Ovinus) on fertility in healthy adult male rats.

Thirty-six rats were divided into six groups (n=6) including control and five treatment groups. DPP (120, 240 and 360 mg/kg) and A.ovinus (100, 500 mg/ kg) were orally given to the treatment groups. After thirty-five days, blood samples were taken to determine serum levels of FSH, LH, testosterone and estradiol. Weight of testis and epididymis, sperm count, sperm motility, seminiferous tubules diameter (STD), germinal cell layer thickness (GCLT), sertoli, leydig and spermatogonia cells were also evaluated.

DPP at the of 120 and 240 mg/kg doses significantly raised the ratio oftestis or epididymis to body weight, sperm count, sperm motility, and estradiollevel compared to the control group (p<0.05). LH and testosterone levels onlynoticeably increased at 120 mg/kg of DPP (p<0.01 and p<0.001 respectively). STDincreased in the three applied doses (p=0.001). A. ovinus extract at the indicateddoses produced a significant reduction in the ratio of testis or epididymis to bodyweight and sperm motility (p<0.05). Sperm count, spermatogonia, leydig cells andFSH level decreased at dose of 500 mg/kg. Furthermore, GCLT, spermatogoniacells, and serum estradiol level increased at 100 mg/kg dose of A. ovinus.

Our findings indicate that DPP could improve fertility factors, while A.ovinus can exhibit deleterious effects on gonad and sperm parameters in rats.